Kansas SRS - Immigrant Eligibility Fact Sheet

IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY FACT SHEET

February 2001

Legal aliens may qualify for cash, child care, and medical assistance (Medicaid and HealthWave) if they:

Have resided in the U.S. since prior to August 22, 1996 and meet one of the following conditions:

are lawful permanent residents

are refugees

are asylees

have deportation withheld

have been granted parole status

have been granted special conditional entry status are honorably discharged veterans or on active duty in the U.S. armed services (including the spouse and unmarried dependent children of the alien).

are Cuban or Haitian entrants or admitted as Amerasian immigrants

Entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996 and meet one of the following conditions:

are refugees

are asylees

have had deportation withheld

are honorably discharged veterans or on active duty in the U.S. armed forces

Lawful permanent resident aliens and aliens granted parole or conditional entry as well as battered immigrants and their children are ineligible for assistance for 5 years from the date of entry to the United States. Thereafter, they must meet alienage provisions in order to receive assistance.

All other aliens who do not meet the above criteria are ineligible for cash, child care, and medical assistance but may qualify for emergency medical coverage.

Legal aliens qualify for participation in the Food Stamp program as follows:

The following aliens only qualify for food stamps for seven years from the date of entry into the U.S.:

refugees

asylees

aliens whose deportations have been withheld

Cuban or Haitian entrants

admitted as an Amerasian immigrant

Legal permanent residents who have worked 40 qualifying quarters (approximately 10 years) or longer in the U.S. or who are receiving benefits for blindness or disability and were 65 years of age or older on August 22, 1996, or currently under 18 years of age.

An alien who is lawfully residing in the U.S. and is either an honorably discharged veteran or on active duty in the U.S. armed services. This also includes the spouse or unmarried dependent children of the alien.

The following legal aliens are eligible for an indefinite period of time:
1. For food stamps and medical:
  - American Indians born in Canada
2. For food stamps:
  - Members of a Hmong or Laotian Tribe at the time the tribe rendered assistance to U.S. personnel during the Vietnam Era.

All other aliens who do not meet the above criteria will be ineligible for food stamp benefits.